Earwax and Dancing Grannies

by Rob on March 7, 2008 · 14 comments

in Being a Doctor

DancingGranny Two things happened in the office yesterday worth noting.

The first happened when I was talking to an elderly Alzheimer’s patient.  I asked her how she was doing and she leaned forward and said quietly, "I am doing just great, Dr. Rob."

Then she added, "If you want me to, I can dance for you."

The second happened while looking into a teenager’s ear.  I noted a large amount of wax and made a joke that he could make candles like Shrek.  He smiled a little and said, "I can get it out to cure some cold sores."

I furrowed my brow and looked confused.  His mother explained, "Don’t you know that earwax cures cold sores?"  She then went on to explain that it works great, and they often use other people’s wax on their own cold sores.

I told her I think I’d rather have a cold sore.

It boggles my mind.

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  • http://rlbatesmd.blogspot.com/ rlbates

    So did Granny dance for you (or with you). She makes me smile. The other, ugh!

  • http://rlbatesmd.blogspot.com/ rlbates

    So did Granny dance for you (or with you). She makes me smile. The other, ugh!

  • http://www.17q11-2.blogspot.com/ outre

    So that’s what in Abreva…

    Ew. I’d rather have the cold sore too.

  • http://www.17q11-2.blogspot.com outre

    So that’s what in Abreva…

    Ew. I’d rather have the cold sore too.

  • http://seaspray-itsawonderfullife.blogspot.com/ SeaSpray

    yuk!

  • http://seaspray-itsawonderfullife.blogspot.com SeaSpray

    yuk!

  • KB

    Wonder if candle wax would work? These folks may be on to something … it sounds gross to use ear wax. May try candle wax – next time I get one perhaps it is the waxy part that heals them up…. odd but those old home grown off the farm cures sometimes work.
    Thanks for sharing!

  • KB

    Wonder if candle wax would work? These folks may be on to something … it sounds gross to use ear wax. May try candle wax – next time I get one perhaps it is the waxy part that heals them up…. odd but those old home grown off the farm cures sometimes work.
    Thanks for sharing!

  • Rob

    No. I think “Burt’s Bees” is a commercial product that uses wax. To my Knowledge, it does nothing for herpes lesions.

  • Rob

    No. I think “Burt’s Bees” is a commercial product that uses wax. To my Knowledge, it does nothing for herpes lesions.

  • Alexa

    Earwax as a cold sore remedy seems gross, but it actually works better than any other product on the market. The remedy has been passed down in my family for generations, and when I’ve used the earwax at the onset of that “tingling” feeling, I’ve never had one come to the surface.

    Candle wax does not work. And the reason that Carmex and Burt’s Bees are recommended for the “heat blister” or “fever blister” is because they contain a type of wax. Those just don’t work as effectively as earwax does.

  • Alexa

    Earwax as a cold sore remedy seems gross, but it actually works better than any other product on the market. The remedy has been passed down in my family for generations, and when I’ve used the earwax at the onset of that “tingling” feeling, I’ve never had one come to the surface.

    Candle wax does not work. And the reason that Carmex and Burt’s Bees are recommended for the “heat blister” or “fever blister” is because they contain a type of wax. Those just don’t work as effectively as earwax does.

  • Kerry

    Hello -
    Just came across you entries and I have to say that the people who commented that they would rather the cold sore, must never have had one! Trust me, I started getting them a few years ago, in my mid thirties. Before getting them, I too would say I would rather the cold sore than put ear wax on them….guess what? I use the ear wax. It works really well.

  • Kerry

    Hello -
    Just came across you entries and I have to say that the people who commented that they would rather the cold sore, must never have had one! Trust me, I started getting them a few years ago, in my mid thirties. Before getting them, I too would say I would rather the cold sore than put ear wax on them….guess what? I use the ear wax. It works really well.

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